The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-07-11
A SONG-BIRD'S TRIALS.
Throat Disease Sets In and for
l Months She Suffers.

Then Tumor Appears, But Medical Science
Steps Inland the Unsightly Mass II Re-
moved Without Disturbing the Patient
4. How II Was Discovered by Physician, and
The Skill Required to Handle It.
SAYS n New York special to The Gin
cinnaH Enquirer: A delicate operation
in surgery, that requires the most OK
pert skill and patience. where there is
a contest with nature for supremacy,
without splitting Of blood and resultant
shock. Is what every surgeon enthusiast
, bankers afiec. There was brought to
the New York Hospital last week just
such a case as would gladden. the heart
of the most fastidious expert in the Sc
lection OF cases for operation. 1t re-
quired dclicnte operation for the re-
moval of tumor from the throat. The
patient Martha Cushman, is middle
aged woman Of prepossessing appear
ance, whose home is at Fort Edward.
New York. In youth 1t was seen that
she had an excellent voice. Time and
money were spent in its cultivation at
the Conservatory of Music in this city.
She held the position of leading So
prano in one of the city churches for q
long time, which she gave up to take
charge of musical school in the inte-
rior of the State. She sang her way
into popularity in concert, and speedi-
" became noted in her new field us an
able exponent OF the best methods Of
voice cultivation.
ALL WENT WELL
Until year and half ago, when her
voice at times became hus ky and not
easily controlled. There was not
thought to be anything serious the
matter with her vocal organs, the
trouble being laid to the exhaustion
. that follows long continued muscular
faction and strain, such as would natur-
lily follow tho faithful performance
II her duties. She took rest and was
benefited by 1t, but as soon as she
began to use her voice again, the same
conditions were re-established. Moth
ing but absolute rest would cure her.
so her attending physician said, and
this she took, much against her wishes.
The throat affection continued stationa-
ry for while, being shown by slight
cough, and ever present hoarscness.
Then there was a sudden change in
which. the voice could not be raised
above whisper without great effort
As the loss of the voice is not an UNI
common thing among musicians. and
something that nature takes care OF
much better than the art OF men. there
was little treatment given save for the
general health, and it was confidently
believed that in little while the mus
cles would recover their elasticity and
Hall would be well. This confidence in
Me favorable termination of the case
after time dispelled by
AOpIC CONTRADICTIONS OF THE
THROAT,
During which there was considerable
interference with breathing, Local
,timulants were applied without good
results. and the spasms were so hard
at times that relief was only given by
prompt inhalation of ether. There was
constant pain in the throat that
varied in intensity, but it was so an
uoying and irritating that it brought
sense Of fear and dread that something
was going to happen to her. This had
serious effect on her health, and I'M
determined her constitution, reduced
her weight, made her nervous wreck
and took all the sunshine and pleasure
Z out of her life Miss Cushman's throat
had been examined by several local
physicians, but the real nature of the
difficulty was not discovered. All that
appeared to them was that the larynx
was smaller than the natural size in the
, adult.
She steadily grew weaker and the
mental worriment caused an unbalanc-
ing Of the mind. She showed a tend
sncy to suicide and was closely watched.
She has constantly before her the idea
that she was in danger of choaking.
and while much of the fear was little
more than fancy, yet on her mental
condition it was sufficient to affect her
opinions. Her symptoms became so
alarming and her condition so pitful
that she was brought to this city and
.aken to the New York Hospital as a
patient Of DIR Parker, throat specialist